Postage Stamps Research Articles

Comprehensive analysis on the design of Mongolian postage stamps: Case of “Soyombo” postage stamp

This paper explains how the Mongolian national postal stamp is not only a tool of telecommunication according to international standards, but also an important and multifaceted symbol of national art and culture, state and social policy, and representative of the country’s history by analyzing the image of the national postal stamp named Soyombo. Moreover, the paper will examine the “Soyombo” stamp based on the visual appearance of the stamp, such as symbols, graphics, colors, and compositions by observing, comparing, and using techniques of semiotics and structured methodology. Finally, this paper will suggest how to properly classify the stamps by conducting research and analysis on the types of stamps of the Mongolian post office. “Соёмбо” маркийн дүрслэлийн асуудалд Хураангуй: Монгол шуудангийн марк нь дэлхий нийтийн жишгээр харилцаа холбооны хэрэгсэл болох төдийгүй үндэсний дүрслэх урлаг, соёл, төр нийгмийн бодлого, түүхэн цаг үеийг харуулсан олон талт илэрхийлэл мөн болохыг “Соёмбо” маркийн дүрслэл дээр үндэслэн өгүүлэх болно. Мөн Монгол шуудангийн маркийн төрөл зүйлийг судлан өөрсдийн саналыг дэвшүүлж, тэдгээрийн дотроос үндэсний хэмжээний хоёр дахь марк болох “Соёмбо” маркийг бэлгэдэл, график дүрслэл, өнгө, зохиомж зэрэг дүрслэх урлагийн бүтээл болох талаас нь ажиглалт, харьцуулалт, тэмдэг зүй-бүтэц зүйн аргаар судалгаа хийж санал дүгнэлтээ дэвшүүлнэ. Түлхүүр үгс: дүрслэх урлагийн бүтээл, бэлгэдэл тэмдэг, зохиомж, дизайн, элемент

The Hashemite Regime on Jordanian Postage Stamps: A Visual History of Nation-Building

This study will examine the political use of stamps to preserve the Hashemite heritage. It will focus on how Jordanian stamps combine images of the Hashemite royal family with Arab, Islamic, and Palestine-themed symbols to strengthen the legitimacy and stability of the Hashemite monarchy and develop a Jordanian national identity. In the first period (1921–1947), stamps emphasized images of King Abdullah I, founder and first monarch of the Emirate of Transjordan, to bolster legitimacy of Hashemite rule in Transjordan and forge a bond between Transjordanians and Hashemites. In the second period (1948–1967), Palestine motifs complimented images of the Hashemites to construct a hybrid identity consisting of one Jordanian family including Transjordanians and Palestinians. In the third period (1972–1999), Transjordanian, Arab and Islamic, and military themes accompanied Hashemite images. This tumultuous period witnessed Israel’s conquest of the West Bank, the 1971 Black September insurgency between the Jordanian army and fedayeen, and King Hussein’s West Bank disengagement decision in 1988. While Palestinian and Transjordanian themes fluctuated, recurrence of Hashemite images and symbols sought to convince Jordanians that the kingdom’s long-term stability and security will always be destined with the monarchy even if its borders or relationship with the Palestinians change.

Postage Stamps Commemorating Afghanistan's Independence Day, 1920–2019: An Analysis and Interpretation

This article focuses on the description and analysis of postage stamps printed in Afghanistan to commemorate the anniversary of Independence Day. The study covers a period of one hundred years, from 1920 to 2019. Presented chronologically, the analysis identifies various symbols that are connected to the idea of independence and examines the relationships between these symbols and the dynamics of changes on the domestic political scene. The findings suggest a deliberate decision-making process in the selection of symbols, driven by specific ideological and political objectives, although the question regarding the factual influence of the stamp-oriented policy still needs to be researched. The article concludes with statistical data on the frequency of use of individual symbols and provides several examples of the postage stamps analyzed here.

Postage Stamps as Political and Religious Propaganda: The Case of Hamas

The article, “Postage Stamps as Political and Religious Propaganda: The Case of Hamas,” analyzes the use of postage stamps by Hamas between 2009 and 2019 as a medium for disseminating political, religious, and nationalist messages. After assuming control of Gaza in 2007, Hamas issued 148 stamps, utilizing them to assert its legitimacy, promote resistance to Israel, and shape a Palestinian historical narrative. Although these stamps were not recognized by the Universal Postal Union, they served as an important communication tool within Gaza. The study reveals that over half of the stamps focus on themes related to the national struggle, including martyrdom, military operations, and Palestinian unity. Additionally, religious symbols, particularly those related to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and international commemorative events are prominent features. The findings suggest that stamps were strategically employed by Hamas to strengthen its role in the Palestinian struggle and to enhance its domestic legitimacy. The article concludes by proposing further comparative research between the stamps of Hamas and those issued by other non-recognized entities, while also addressing the potential influence of the 2023 Gaza conflict on future stamp issuance.

Representing Religion in North and South Korea: Seventy-Five Years of the Semiotics of Stamp Design

As government documents, postage stamps are a rich source of information about a government’s policies on a wide range of subjects. In this article, a comparative semiotic analysis of the first seventy-five years of North and South Korean stamps is used to illustrate the similarities and differences in their attitudes towards ‘religion’ and religious practice. A corpus of stamps on a ‘religious’ theme was created for stamps issued by both governments from which a series of themes and motifs was noted. The semiotic analysis of the themes and motifs showed that while on South Korean stamps Buddhist motifs constituted the majority of stamps commemorating cultural history, there were few references to the commemoration of Buddhism itself. The reverse was found to be true for Christianity. Although Christianity was not shown to be a major expression of Korean culture, Christianity itself was commemorated extensively. On North Korean stamps, folklore and Christian motifs predominated as projections of cultural history, but the Christian motifs referred only to foreign cultures, not Korean culture. Motifs relating to the foundation myth of Tan’gun were common to both North and South Korea. However, in the South, motifs from the myth referred to the nation, while in the North they referred to the ruling family.

Stamps Don’t Lie: Sports, Military, and National Identity Postage Stamps As a Mirror of Aggressive Soviet and Russian Propaganda

Abstract During the 20th century, authoritarian regimes willingly embraced sport as a vivid arena for demonstrating their superiority. Prior research on postage stamps issued by such regimes revealed certain patterns associated with periods of aggressive internal and external rhetoric, whereby postage stamps served as a channel for government propaganda. In the current study, we looked at sports, military, and national identity stamps. Applying the social-semiotic method, we first examined the messages sports stamps have conveyed in Soviet Union and Russia. Then, the quantitative paradigm was employed to evaluate the trends in the issuance of propagandistic stamps by post-WW2 USSR and Russia. Finally, we expanded the scope by looking at stamp issuance in Germany, Italy, and USSR in pre-WW2 and WW2 years. This heavily militaristic “landscape” was used mainly as a basis for comparison with the issuance policy of Putin’s Russia. The results shed light on some striking similarities across the different countries and periods. These findings are discussed in the context of the recent geopolitical situation.

Recruitment strategies and consent rates in a national prospective colorectal cancer screening cohort: results from year 1 of the Voyage Study

ObjectiveTo identify the optimal incentive protocol for maximising participation while managing study costs during the Voyage trial.DesignProspective cohort (Voyage trial) of colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality outcomes in individuals...

القيم التربوية في تصميم الطوابع العراقية كعنصر لإحياء الهوية بعد عام 2003

The current study aims to identify the educational values in the design of Iraqi stamps and their reflection in reviving the concept of identity. The research problem is outlined in the question about the nature of the educational values in the design of Iraqi stamps and their reflection in reviving the concept of identity after 2003. The research hypotheses are: 1- The Iraqi stamp has a national identity after 2003 2- The Iraqi stamp has educational and aesthetic values The previous studies are reviewed next followed by sections of the theoretical framework. The first section is about the concept of educational values. The second section explains the concept of identity and its nature, and the third section is dedicated to Iraqi stamps and their characteristics. In regards to the research procedures, the research community was limited to the Iraqi stamps issued after 2003, which were (484) stamps, with (4) stamps being excluded due to poor printing. Then, the stamps were divided into topics consistent with educational values for convenience of analysis. The result is (5%) of each topic was equivalent to (25) models or stamps. After adopting observation as an approach of research and a system of indicators of the theoretical framework, a model analysis form was designed to obtain a set of results, the most important of which are: Aesthetic values was on the top of list by (80) recurrences, with the highest recurrence rate of up to (35.24%), which indicates the aesthetics, organization and organization of stamps. Moreover, postage stamps carried multiple functions, including, social, historical, economic and cultural identity. The study is finalized with the following conclusions: 1- The Iraqi postal stamp after 2003 carried a national identity. 2- The Iraqi postal stamp has aesthetic and historical values that bear the features of the Iraqi environmental heritage.

Decipherment of text on foxed documents by Hyperspectral Imaging on VSC 6000

Foxing is a process of deterioration that generates spots and browning on ancient paper documents such as books, monographs, postage stamps, certificates, etc. It is believed that metals and bacteria are the primary causes of foxing production. According to scientific studies, physical, chemical, and biological processes degrade paper. Paper is especially prone to biodeterioration processes due to its organic composition and hygroscopic nature; as a result, foxed paper becomes weaker, more fragile, and more acidic than undamaged paper. In circumstances where the text of a book or other document becomes unreadable owing to foxing, measures must be established to make the content readable. In the present study, efforts were made to understand the unreadable text content of books damaged by foxing, and the capabilities of Hyperspectral Image on VSC 6000 employing Near-Infrared Multispectral imaging analysis were presented. It is a method for optimising spectral differences that is non-invasive. First, microbiological flora (fungal and bacterial) from old books were identified, followed by the selection of the mechanism of VSC. The results revealed a correlation between fungal foxing and bacterial foxing, leading to the conclusion that fungus foxing necessitates distinct wavelength ranges between 600 and 800 nm for the decipherment of text, but bacterial foxing allows for decipherment at 645nm. Purchase Article - $10

Scanning Micro X-ray Fluorescence and Multispectral Imaging Fusion: A Case Study on Postage Stamps.

Scanning micrο X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF) and multispectral imaging (MSI) were applied to study philately stamps, selected for their small size and intricate structures. The μ-XRF measurements were accomplished using the M6 Jetstream Bruker scanner under optimized conditions for spatial resolution, while the MSI measurements were performed employing the XpeCAM-X02 camera. The datasets were acquired asynchronously. Elemental distribution maps can be extracted from the μ-XRF dataset, while chemical distribution maps can be obtained from the analysis of the multispectral dataset. The objective of the present work is the fusion of the datasets from the two spectral imaging modalities. An algorithmic co-registration of the two datasets is applied as a first step, aiming to align the multispectral and μ-XRF images and to adapt to the pixel sizes, as small as a few tens of micrometers. The dataset fusion is accomplished by applying k-means clustering of the multispectral dataset, attributing a representative spectrum to each pixel, and defining the multispectral clusters. Subsequently, the μ-XRF dataset within a specific multispectral cluster is analyzed by evaluating the mean XRF spectrum and performing k-means sub-clustering of the μ-XRF dataset, allowing the differentiation of areas with variable elemental composition within the multispectral cluster. The data fusion approach proves its validity and strength in the context of philately stamps. We demonstrate that the fusion of two spectral imaging modalities enhances their analytical capabilities significantly. The spectral analysis of pixels within clusters can provide more information than analyzing the same pixels as part of the entire dataset.

The British Royals in Australia

The British Royals in Australia

Narrating the state in miniature: philatelic representations of Kazakhstan, 1992–2021

ABSTRACT Postage stamps, despite being somewhat cloaked over time by both obscurity and sheer ubiquity, are important official, primary source state documents. The iconography and visual data on the stamp have been used by states to project an official narrative, at times crossing into propaganda. Scholars have analysed these data to access how a given state has sought to portray itself to both domestic and international audiences. Over the course of its first 30 years of post-Soviet independence, Kazakhstan has produced 1130 visually distinct postage stamps. Visual content analysis reveals that much (nearly 45%) of this state’s philatelic representation can be assigned to two thematic categories: Nature and Notable People. Iconographic representations found on Kazakhstan’s first stamp issue (and others featuring the Golden Man), selected representations of flora and fauna species, a selection of stamps displaying Nursultan Nazarbayev imagery, and other selected stamps displaying multiple themes are scrutinized. These representations additionally project a concretization of the state and its territory, as well as sovereignty. While the messaging medium is miniature, for Kazakhstan the narrative itself is monumental.

The Evolution of the Formation of the Human Skull, in Reflection of a Number of Means of Collection

This author's, research article, in the form of screenshots, presents the results of the study, such means of collecting as postage stamps, envelopes, postage stamps, commemorative coins and medals, books, dedicated to the heroes of the article, and their photographs, reflect the processes of evolutionary changes of the human skull, from the period of ancient people, ancestors of modern man, to the present, in the reflection of such means of collecting as philately and numismatics.

National museums of communication and postal service in postal miniature of Germany, France and Russia

In the second half of the 19th century, almost simultaneously with the establishment of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in 1874, postal museums began to open across Europe. The first postal museums opened in the UPU founding countries — Germany and Russia. The objectives and concepts of these museums were presented differently to their organizers. In Germany they tried to cover the history of the world mail, in Russia — the development of telegraph, as the most modern means of communication, and France — demonstrated a desire to become the capital of typology. The creation of postal museums, which were seen not only as cultural phenomena but also as a national strategic element, also involved national governments (or their departments). The Second World War changed not only philatelic themes, but also influenced changes in display activities. Today there are postal museums in virtually every country in the world, but not every philatelic production reflects the stages of their creation and development. Images of world postal museums, their creators and exhibits in the Timbrology media space emphasize that postage stamps, in addition to their main purpose — payment for postal messages, perform supplementary functions — advertising and educational.

Nuclear physics – stamped

Postage stamps are not just tokens we use to send letters – they also form part of our social history. Ian Briggs looks at how developments in nuclear physics have been depicted in postage stamps.

Philatelic Testimonials of Maramures Mining (II): The Peak of the Local Philatelic Movement

Abstract We would like to think that Maramureş mining and thematic philately had a common destiny. The merging of the two areas of interest, although it started timidly, has continued to capture the public's interest more and more frequently in the period after 1988 and up to the present. Through the present work, we aimed to highlight the philatelic elements (postage stamps, first day of issue envelopes/FDCs, illustrated postcards, special and anniversary envelopes, maximum postcards, etc.) that appeared and promoted part of the activity of local mining, especially the one in Maramureș County. The identification, indexing, analysis, and description of the philatelic pieces were carried out starting from the existing material on several specialist websites with a philatelic profile and e-commerce platforms (Allnumis®, Colnect®, Delcampe®, eBay®, Jurnalul Filatelic, Romfilatelia, WOPA+®, WorldStamps®, etc), as well as that placed at the disposition of colleagues, philately enthusiasts and frantic collectors. The results of our current research have materialized in an impressive series of manifestations of the creation of Maramuresi philatelists, who have not forgotten for a moment that the basis of local development in the past was mining, through its economic, operational, and cultural contribution.

Postage stamps as a means of propaganda to promote eye examination and vision screening

This paper deals with representation of eye examination and eye disease prevention methods in philately. The work represents the primary methods used for eye disease diagnosis and demonstrates the role of stamps in raising awareness among people regarding basic medical knowledge. The article is supplied with illustrative material, explanatory descriptions and comments.

Changing Tunes: Narratives of Nation in South African Music-Themed Postage Stamps (1961–2015)

ABSTRACT Postage stamps have in recent years been positioned as token purveyors of nation, with countries disseminating carefully curated ideas of national identity to their own citizens and international audiences. This article complements existing research by using South African music-themed postage stamps to read the changing narratives of the nation, or ‘music nationalism’ in philately. The article analyses music-themed postage stamps issued in South Africa between 1961 and 2015. It confirms that the representation of music nationalism in apartheid philately aligned with Afrikaner nationalist politics, with clear divides between ‘White’ and ‘Black’ genres. Post-apartheid music-themed stamps draw attention to forgotten music histories previously overshadowed by apartheid ideology while still engaging with musical threads of the apartheid past. Most significantly, the article illuminates the other forces at play behind what many accept to be a process solely steered and controlled by the state, revealing much about South Africa’s democracy.

Of histories (un)shared: India – Pakistan, postage stamps, and 1857

ABSTRACT While much has been written about how imperialist and Indian nationalist historiographies have approached 1857, scant attention has been paid to how it has been remembered in Pakistan. This article endeavours to explore the ways in which 1857 has been articulated by the state in India and Pakistan through a study of their commemorative postage stamps. On the face of it, India's emphasis on nonviolence and Pakistan's quest for an Islamic history make 1857 a misfit within the historiographies of both states. However, the paper outlines that during the centenary in 1957, both India and Pakistan commemorated 1857 while maintaining some discursive distance from it. While Pakistan chose to memorialise it as the beginning of its struggle for independence, India recessed it within the broader framework of independence itself. The paper goes on to demonstrate how this position has changed drastically over the years. In order to weave a composite and inclusive history of the country, India now celebrates the legacy of 1857 by appropriating it within the frames of national unity, patriotism, and anti-imperialism. Pakistan, on the other hand, uses 1857 merely as a means to segue into a discussion of reform efforts led by the subcontinent's Muslim elite, thereby relegating it to the background of the Pakistan movement.

The Eagle, the Rocket, and the Moon: U.S. Postal Iconography at the End of History

In this Photoarticle, we survey what we will call the post-historical U.S. postage stamps of the last third of the twentieth century. We focus on stamps depicting the space race and space travel, as well as the linkage of some of those stamps to the 1992 Olympic games, to analyze the iconographic and narrative consequences of an increasing turn toward the commercialization of postal services. The stamps we consider coincide with a series of new commercial strategies on the part of the United States Postal Service (USPS) and a broad resurgence in public interest in space travel. While many critics during the 1960s considered the space race to be a distraction from more pressing political concerns—such as urban poverty or the war in Vietnam—by the 1980s and 1990s, space travel had become a less controversial endeavor (perhaps due to its large-scale defunding), and astronauts, especially the Apollo 11 astronauts, were widely lauded as heroes. We have chosen this “topical” focus (as stamp collectors say) for two reasons. First, the iconography of space exploration is dominated by one specific moment, when the lunar module Eagle touched down on the moon on July 20, 1969. Despite an ongoing history of space exploration before and after 1969, the moon landing, we will argue, was treated in postal iconography as a timeless event —a climactic technological triumph that seemed to announce what Francis Fukuyama, in an influential essay, called “the end of history.”